Biodiesel the liquid fuel answer

The article proposing reducing aviation to achieve carbon dioxide emissions (Dec 12) is somewhat delusional. With an ever-growing human population becoming ever more industrialised, it is far more likely that there will be an increase in aviation.

Moreover, we should put it into perspective. Transportation accounts for 28 per cent of total carbon dioxide emissions, and of this 18 per cent is for aviation, ie 5 per cent of the total, hardly something to get excited about.

Compare this with 28 per cent for electricity generation (except in New Zealand), which could easily be done by other means. Energy as such is not a problem. More energy falls on the Earth as sunlight in a day than mankind uses in a year.

In any case, reducing aviation to achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions is unnecessary. Cars are being converted to electric, which will help reduce emissions, but this cannot be translated to trains, ships and aircraft. Batteries are too big and heavy for long transport.

We still need liquid fuels. Fortunately, we already have them in biodiesel. Crops are grown and biodiesel is made from them, making the process carbon-neutral. It should be relatively simple for a chemist to convert biodiesel to aviation fuel. Transportation emissions problem solved.

Alan Walsh, Rangiora Funny that.

We mourn Christine every day. The sky is crying for Grace.

Andy Thompson, Burwood